Drawing instrument



June 14, 1932. A ALLRED 1,863,091

DRAWING INSTRUMENT Filed May 8, 1950 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 14, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRAWING INSTRUMENT Application filed May 8, 1930. Serial No. 450,862.

This invention relates to improvements in drawing instruments.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved drawing in- 6 strument, of extremely simple character,

which may be used by engineers and draftsmen to easily and conveniently draw a series of parallel lines; the invention being particularly meritorious in that with it a plurality 18 of parallel irregularly curved lines may be 'drawn expeditiously and with accuracy.

It is well known to those skilled in this art that it is a time consuming, tedious, and very often inaccurate task to draw a series 1 of accurately spaced parallel irregularly curved lines. With my improved instrument this may be done with accuracy and dispatch, simply by properly operating the instrument along the curved edge of a tem- 20 plot in connection with proper positioning of a scribing element upon the instrument.

- Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the instrument,

30 or curve liner, as I prefer to call it.

Figure 2 is an edge elevation of the instrument.

Figure 3 is a view, slightly in perspective, showing the manner of use of the improved instrument by a draftsman.

In the drawing, wherein is merely shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A may generally designate the instrument, which may be made of pyroxyline, synthetic resin, wood, metal, fiber, hard rubher, or any approved material such as the various angles, irregular curves and templets of engineers and draftsm'en are made. In the preferred instance it is of transparent material, such as synthetic resin or pyroxyline, and in sheet-like form of uniform thickness. It may be small or large to suit the purpose of the engineer or draftsman. In the preferred instance its shape is that shown in the drawing, but this shape may be radically departed from without departing from the broad conception of the invention. The instrument A at one peripheral edge is recessed at 10, preferably concavely, and at the ends of the recess the peripheral edge of the instrument has relatively short edges or points 11 and 12, which are spaced the desired distance, and which may be slightly convex if desired. These edges or points 11 and 12 are not of any appreciable length, for the reason that they are adapted to rest against the edge of a templet, such as shown at B in Figure 3 of the drawing, to stabilize the instrument A during use. The recess 10 is appreciably set into the body so that the device A is capable of use with irregular curves, such as shown at B; the convexity of the irregular curve of course entering the recess 10 to permit the stabilization of the instrument A as it rests at its points 11 and 12 along the curved or other edge 15 of the templet B, and during movement therealong.

The object of the invention is to permit of the easy scribing of parallel lines without the necessity of shifting the templet B. WVhile the templet B is of the irregular curve type it may be a templet having a regular curved edge, or it may be an angle having a straight edge along which the instrument A is slid. One embodiment of the means for enabling the accurate association of the scribing element C therewith is shown in the drawing. The preferred construction of the instrument A for this purpose is shown in Figures 1 and 8 of the drawing. It consists in placing a series of small apertures 16 in differently spaced relation with respect to the points or edges 11 and 12. In the preferred instance the apertures 16 are arranged in a straight line, that is, a line intersecting the axis thereof will be straight. The apertures 16 are all of the same size, and these apertures are preferably just large enough to permit the insertion of a pencil or pen point. They may be specially designed to permit the association therein of the inking end of a ruling pen if desired. In the preferred arrangement the line of apertures 16 are arranged at right angles to a straight line drawn tangential to the j that the distance as Y - 12-,,with a recess v size as the openings are arranged in a straight line, that is, a linelntersectlng the axes of these openingspoints 11 and 12. The line intersecting the axes of the openings 16 intersects the point 11, although this need not necessarily be true, and the aperture 16 closest to the point or edge 11 is spaced a predetermined distance from the point 11. In the preferred instance the openings or aperat ures 16 are adjacently spaced a uniform distance from each other. Let us say, for example, that the adjacent centers. of the openings. 16.. are spaced apart one-sixteenth of an inch, and from the point or edge 11 to the first opening 16 is one-sixteenth of an inch also. to place the instrument A along the edge 15 of the templet B, with the edges or points 11 and 12resting along the-edge 15, and by placing the-point of the scribing element in the successive openings 16 and moving theinstrument A. along the templet B, in

a manner whichwill be perfectlyapparent to those skilled in the art, sucessive parallel curvelines 20 may be drawn, as shown in Figure 3, which are spaced 1/16th of an inch apart, and in parallelism with the edge 15 of the templet B. Ofcourse, it is to be realized that the actual spacing shown in the illustration is not 1/ 16th of an inch, but the example is cited merely to show the idea in which the invention is preferably Theinstrument A may have any approved number of the points 11 and 12 thereabout, with respectively associated series of openings therefor, and with these openings spaced at various distances to carry out various intended uses of the device. An important and preferred association with the instrument A, as described, is the provision of a second pair of the edges or points 11 and 10" of-the instrument'A between these points-or edges 11 -and12K These points or edges 11 and 12 may be convexly formed or bluntly formed in any preferred relation, may be spaced apart properly so that thein strument may be accurately stabilized-against a curved edge of a templet without liability of rocking, and without interference upon the part of the convexity of the curved edged portion of the templet along which the 1nstrument is being used. In association with the points 11 and 12 there are provided a series of openings 30, of preferably the same 16. These openings will be straight. This straight line i arranged normal to a straight line drawn tangential to the point 11 and 12. The openings 30 are adj acently spaced from each other 1/16th ofv an inch orv in the same spacing" as adjacent openings 16 above described. There is one distinguishing feature in the linelof openings 30 compared 16,-and that'isthe opening 30 closest to the This permits. the draftsman developed.

extending into the body and they to the openings point or edge 11 is spaced from the point or edge 11 3/32nd of an inch, in contradistinction to the l/l6th inch spacing of the first opening 16 from the point 11. This permits the draftsman or engineer to first draw in his lines 20 at 1/16th of an inch spacing, and then change the angularity of the device A, permitting the edges 11 and 12 to ride along the edge 15 of the templet B, and by inserting the point of the scribing element C in the openings and 30, lines paralleling the lines 20 may be drawn in the spaces between the lines 20, midway between'said lines. This of course is on the presumption that the templet B has not been shifted. This places the parallel. lines 1/32nd inch apart.

It is quite apparent that the above arrangement is of considerble importance, since thereby the openings 16 and 30 need not be adjacently spaced so close as to prevent of the practical use of the device by the drawing "of very closely spaced parallel curved lines. If the openings 16, for instance, were to be spaced 1/32nd'of an inch apart, it is quite evident that they would run together and defeat the purpose of the invention. Other sets of templet edge engaging pointsv may be provided on the instrument A. in association with a transverse arrangement of scribing point inserting apertures, as is quite evident. All other edges of theinstrument other than those described'may be convexed ifv desired, although t is is not an essential feature of the invention, since the instrument may lee-designed to extend the line of openings 16 and 30 for any distance desired, as is quite apparent. It is quite evident that the improved curve liner may be used against the edge of a straight templet, angle, rule, as well as against the edge of an irregularly curved templet. The recessing 10. and 10", as well as the spacing of, associated pointsll and12, and 11 and'12 will ofcoursedetermine the extent to which the. device maybe used againstthe edge of a curved templet. Straight as well as curved lines drawn-with the liner are smooth, free from low, high or flat places, and are equally spaced from the original edge of the templet along which the instrument is moved. The device can also be used for drawing true circles by inserting a: needle point or other center in one of. the openings, and using a scribing element in the other openings in a manner which is apparent.

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

' I claim:

1. A 'drawing'instrument particularly for employment with a curved edged templet, or the like, comprising a flat sheet-like body having a plurality of peripheral point-like edges with the body concaved appreciably between two of the points so that the two points may be set against the curved edge of the templet and slid therealong, said body having spaced apart apertures leading away from one of said points for associating a scribing element therewith for drawing spaced apart lines paralleling the edge of the templet along which the instrument is slid.

2. As an article of manufacture a reversible drawing instrument comprising a substantially flat body adapted to be laid upon a drawing or the like and moved over the surface thereof, said body being peripherally formed with a pair of appropriately spaced points with the body between said points recessed whereby the points may be rested against a curved edge of a templet in stabilized relation therewith and slid therealong without rocking, said body having a series of scribing elements receiving openings therein arranged in a straight line normal to the straight line which is tangential to the two peripheral points above mentioned, said series 2 of openings being uniformly spaced with respect to each other, said body having a second pair of peripheral points thereon with the body recessed therebetween, said second pair of points being adapted for engagement 00 against an edge of a templet for stabilizing the position of the instrument as it is slid along an edge of the templet, said body having a second series of openings therein for receiving a scribing element arranged in a line normal to a straight line drawn tangential to the second pair of peripheral points above mentioned, the adjacent openings in the second series above mentioned being uniformly spaced for the same distance as adjacent open- 4 ings of the first mentioned series, the openings of the first mentioned series being spaced with respect to the openings of the second series in such relation that lines drawn by a scribing element inserted in the first mentioned series of openings upon movement of the instrument along an edge of a templet with the first mentioned peripheral points in engagement with said edge will lie between and in parallelism with lines drawn by using the scribing element in the openings of the second mentioned series of openings upon reversal of said body, with the second mentioned pair of peripheral points operating against the edge of the templet without shifting the templet during the drawing of all of said lines.

ARCHIE M. ALLRED. 

